Clasp finding



Feb. 7. 1956 A. R. SACCOCCIQ CLASP FINDING Filed April 4, 1 955 INVENTOR. any 1 2. Sacc occz'o j /&

fiMu/m A T TORNEYS.

United States Patent CLASP FINDING Anthony Saccoccio, Cranston,.R. L, assignor to Aro-Sac, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island A plication April 4, 1955, Serial No. 498,930

3 Claims. 01. 24-252 This invention relates to a clasp of the type used in jewelry, such for instance as for mounting an ornament onthe ear or for mounting an ornament on the dress of the wearer.

Clasps of the character here referred to are usually formed'by the securing of a finding to an ornament. The findings are usually made by a manufacturer who specializes in the formation of this mechanical part and it the jaw.

finding and the ornament is usually madeby solder, and

some difiiculty is sometimes encountered in the relative positioning of the parts of the finding that they may assume a' proper relation for connection to the ornament, this occurring. because of a spring action which tends to swing the jaw of the finding beyond a position which it would assume when attached to the ornament and this occurring because of the desirability of 'having the spring press the finding jaw so that it will positively engage the ornament.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a stop which will positively and definitely position the two moving parts of the finding that it may be attached to the ornament.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in the finding a stop for limiting the swinging movement of the finding jaw relative to the mounting member in two directions whereby the jaw may assume and be held in either one of two extreme positions, either of which maybe advantageous in soldering or securing of the finding to the ornament, one position being more desirable for the attachment to one character of ornament while the,

other position is more desirable for another character of ornament. I I

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of finding in which a minimum amount of stock is used so that when stock of precious or semiprecious metals is used, there will be a minimum amount of this material necessary in the device. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a hole' or opening which serves the advantageous purpose of reducing the amount of metal in the device and also of providing by reason of the edge of the opening an ad vantageous abutment for limiting the movement of the jaw in one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the adjustment of pressure that a spring tongue will have on the strap which it engages so that the pressure on the lobe of the ear may be adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will be of light weight so that when used as an a tongue 25 between these slit ear attachment, the weight-onthe ear may be at a minimum. Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement so that in opening the clasp, the spring which serves to move the clasp to closed position cannot be damaged by persons not mechanically inclined and'who have the tendency to play with movable parts or to accidentally tend to move them in the wrongdirection and apply greater pressure than the parts are designed to stand. V 1 With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction aswill be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I a In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mounting mem ber, looking at it in one direction;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mounting mem- 7 her, looking at it in the opposite direction;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the jaw and the spring tongue which :is of the same piece of material as With reference to thedrawings, I provide a mounting member designated generally 10 and shown by itself in Figures 3 and 4. This mounting member comprises a bottom wall 11 with end wallsf12-12 extending at generally right angles to' the bottom wall'and spaced apart by thebottom wall. This; structure also has a side wall 13 also extending at generally right angles to the bottom wall and at'right angles to the end walls 12. This structure is all formed from sheet stock bent to the positions indicated. The side wall 13 serves as a mount for the ornament 14 shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. This ornament may be of any desired formor shape and is usually attached to thesidewall 13 by solder and forms one of the jaws of the clasp.

The bottom Wall 11 is cut out as at 15 in a large portion of its area, which is of importance when precious or semi-precious metal is used, as the amount of stock removed from this opening is of substantial value. This also provides lightness in weight, which is of importance when the device is to be used for attachment to the ear,

as minimum weights are often of importance. This also be substantially the thickness of the spring tongue which is to engage it and also serves to guide the spring tongue against the edge 19 of this edge opposite the opening from strap 17 extends. ment.

opening, which is the that along which the 'The jaw of the finding is designated generally20 and is shown in perspective alone in Figure 5. The body portion 21 of this jaw is provided with vtrunnions 22 which are pivotally mounted in the openings 23 in the side walls 12, while this body 21 is alsoslit as at 24, 24 along parallel lines spaced apart sufficiently to provide portions and is of an extent longer than the body portion carrying the trunnions 22. This tongue has a straight line inner surface to contact the convexly curved edge 16 of the strap 17 to Thus, this'edge 19 serves as an abuts am al y he hi n ss. of the onse oi th s r -t As sho ni gur l, he ja .20 ms b tanti lly closed position with the tongue 25 having its end portion engaging he rap a d: pre nted f om. further closin movem nt hrr asc t f. theflange-M form a 1.190.141 por io t en age hest p 1 hu p eventing s i g n movement of the jaw 20 with reference to. the side wall 13 of the mounting member so thateven though the, spring is acting to swing the jaw- 20 about itspivotin a counterc ockwis dire ti a se n inFigure. it cannot g furtherthan the'position shown in Figure 1 because of the hook portion 27' engaging the strap 17 In many instances this relationship of the parts is highly desirable forthe attach; ment of the f nding to the ornament 14, as; the jawcannot press against the ornament. In any event the article which to be gripped between the jaws 1,4. and 20 will be thicker than the space 30 shown between the ornament, 14 and t e jaw Th i w 2.0 is. howntas having a bulg portion 2.9 at its upper end which serves as a convenient; means of providing a rounded surface for engagement with the; ear lobe or otherarticle to be clasped; and, also serves asa convenient; handle portion, foropeningthe device. 1

ure 2 hei w 20 is shown as swung to its opening limit of position. As the-j w s: 1 -'f 0m the p n shown in Figure l to the position shown. in Figure '2; the tongue 2 5'wi1l slide along the strap 17 and its corruga: tion will serveto give this movement a step-by-step. action so, that it might be stopped atany particular: location which will apply a desired amount of pressure. upon the.-

' ear lobe but will noteasily move from this adjusted position,; .As it is swung to. open position, however, beyond the engagement of the. corrugated portion 28;.with the.

- tt p rb tlh t st e gages the smoother portion of the spring tongue 31, and as this portion is engaged, the spring tongue while still pressing against the bar is guided by the spring bar so that its outer end 32 will engage the abutment edge 19 of the opening 15 and will limit the movement of the jaw 20 with reference to the mounting member 10 against any further relative movement in this opening direction. This position also may be of convenience for the attachment of the side wall 13 to some particular type of ornament This arrangement also serves by limiting the opening movement to prevent the spring tongue from being forced beyond its elastic limit in an opening movement, which might otherwise occur if the opening movement were not limited. I claim: s

1. A finding for a clasp comprising a sheet metal mounting member having spaced end walls and a bottom wall between said .end walls with an opening throughithc bottom wall so located as to be spaced from one marginal edge of the bottom wall in its extent. between said end walls to provide a strap, said opening providing an abutment along the edge opposite said strap, a jaw pivotally 'mounted in said end walls, a spring tongue carried by said jaw and engaging said strap to'urge the jaw when in certain positions about its pivotal axis away from said strap, said strap being'oifset from the plane; ofthe stock of the bottom wall along an extent at least equal to the width of the spring tongue with the amount. of offset being substantially the thickness of the spring-tongue, said tongue being so shaped that as it slides along. the strap; it will be, guided bythe strapinto engagement with said abutment to limitits opening swingingmovement.

2. A finding for a clasp 1 as in claim 1 wherein saidspring tongueis corrugated in a-direction. parallel to. its pivotal axis to provide notches to engage said strap.

3 A finding for a clasp as inclaim. 1 wherein said tongue is provided with a flange at its endzforming ahoolc to engage said strap. and; limit swinging movement of; the jaw in the other direction for. conveniencein positioning thejawzrelative to the mounting member during attachment of the mounting member to anornament.

No references cited. l 

